230: Chapter 230 Temptation, Secret Realm

Chapter 230 Temptation, Secret Realm

Clack, clack, clack.

In the silent and spacious corridor, footsteps sounded with a brisk and powerful rhythm.

The guards standing in rows on both sides had upright postures, dressed in identical black uniforms, wearing headsets, and carrying guns at their waists.

The gun bodies vaguely visible under their clothes gleamed with a metallic luster, exuding a chilling deterrent force.

The head guard strode past with vigorous steps.

Their expressions were vigilant, looking straight ahead, and their whole bodies showed the composure and capability of being battle-hardened.

At the end of the corridor was an office that occupied a full corner of the entire floor.

When the head guard came within a few meters of the door, his steps immediately slowed down.

He first straightened his uniform, then gently reached out and pushed the door open.

What came into view was a huge surveillance screen that occupied an entire wall.

The screen exuded a gloomy blue light, staining everything in the room with a faint cool tone.

It clearly displayed the real-time scene of the heavily guarded manor.

At this moment, a young man in a dark suit was quietly sitting in front of the monitoring console.

His face appeared exceptionally stern and cold under the reflection of the screen's blue light.

The cigarette pinched between his fingers curled up with a wisp of blue smoke, slowly dispersing in the air.

His deep gaze stared intently at the surveillance footage, occasionally frowning slightly, and sometimes a trace of an imperceptible arc hooked at the corner of his mouth.

"Eldest Young Master."

The head guard cleared his throat, took a step forward, and called out in a low voice.

The young man ignored him, his eyes not shifting away from the surveillance images in the slightest.

Seeing this, the head guard dared not say much more.

He just stood upright to the side, not even daring to breathe out loud, for fear of disturbing the other's thoughts.

After about half an hour, a slight cough broke the somewhat gloomy silence.

The head guard understood tacitly, and hurriedly moved his somewhat stiff legs, steadily handing over a cup of warm water that had long been prepared from the table beside him with both hands.

The young man nodded slightly, considering it an expression of gratitude.

His fingers gently touched the handle of the cup, bringing the cup close to his lips, and he took a light sip.

His gaze still hadn't completely moved away from the screen, only his brows eased slightly.

It seemed that this mouthful of warm water gave his tense nerves a moment of relaxation.

The head guard watched his expression, then bowed and leaned forward, saying with a hint of concern in his tone:

"Eldest Young Master, you don't need to worry and strain yourself too much. With you personally presiding over this mission, it is like having a calming sea needle, and it will definitely be foolproof."

"Hehe."

Hearing this, the young man's mouth hooked slightly, and not much emotion could be heard in the laughter.

But it made the flattering head guard's heart skip a beat, and his waist couldn't help bending lower.

After laughing, the young man finally moved his gaze away from the surveillance screen a bit.

He turned his head to look at this trusted subordinate, his gaze full of scrutiny, and asked:

"What gains have there been these past two days?"

The head guard's expression suddenly turned stern, and he hurriedly began to report:

"Eldest Young Master, these past two days the brothers have patrolled and kept watch day and night, and indeed have made some discoveries."

"In the southeast direction of the manor, in that relatively high-terrain forest, figures of unknown identity often sway. Judging from their figure and movement trajectory, they don't look like nearby villagers."

"Their actions are sneaky, appearing every time under the cover of night, and they seem unafraid of the fog obscuring their vision. They also understand the manor's patrol patterns and can always skillfully avoid the guards' routine routes."

As he spoke, the head guard took a few steps forward, approached the monitoring console, pointed his finger at an area on the screen, and continued:

"Also, last night, our covert sentries discovered a group of people trying to sneak in from the drainage pipes on the west side of the manor. Fortunately, they were discovered in time and startled away before they penetrated deep."

"According to the brothers' description, this group of people has extraordinary martial skills and well-equipped gear, all carrying special tools, looking like they came prepared."

Speaking of this, the guard paused, revealing a worried expression:

"Eldest Young Master, in my view, these signs indicate that after we released the news of acquiring treasures, we have successfully attracted the attention of various forces. Now they are all restless, trying to find an opportunity to break through the defense line."

The young man listened carefully to the report, his fingers tapping gently on the tabletop, but his brows frowned slightly:

"Too few, not enough. These people are at best small fry, unable to stir up any big waves."

"This subordinate has performed poorly in handling matters."

Hearing these words, a look of shame could not help rising on the head guard's face, and he hurriedly lowered his head and said:

"Perhaps... there are still some experts who master concealment abilities lurking in the dark. With this subordinate's current ability and informants, no clues have been found for the time being. I hope the Eldest Young Master will forgive me."

"No matter."

The young man leaned his body against the back of the chair, saying in a calm tone:

"As long as they have greed in their hearts, it's impossible for them to shrink in a hole like a turtle and never come out. They will show themselves eventually."

Saying this, his body turned slightly, his gaze swept toward the head guard, and a flash of sharp light crossed his eyes:

"Next, we need to adjust the defense strategy."

"You guys pay more attention, pick out those treasure-hunting teams whose strength looks fair enough, deliberately leak a flaw, let one or two batches in, and then find an opportunity to let a few go without leaving a trace."

"You mean..."

The head guard showed doubt on his face, hastily raising his head to look at the young man.

His eyes were full of incomprehension, trying to sort out a clue from his sparse words.

"Those guys are masters who won't scatter hawks until they see the rabbit."

The young man gave a soft sigh, but his words appeared very calm:

"Since that's the case, we might as well take the initiative and generously show it to them, letting them know that we truly have the real goods in our hands. We aren't afraid of them holding back their temptation and not biting the hook."

After a brief thought, the head guard nodded with tacit understanding:

"This move by the Eldest Young Master is truly brilliant! This subordinate understands."

Then, looking somewhat hesitant, he asked in a low voice:

"It's just... when will we launch the real plan, so that this subordinate can adjust the defense measures in time to avoid any mishaps."

"Right before the auction."

The young man stood up, strode with steady steps to the window, with his hands clasped behind his back.

What appeared outside was not a pitch-black mountain wilderness and forest, but a dazzling city night view with brilliant lights.

Inside this office, the space was spacious, and the decoration was extremely luxurious.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows occupied an entire wall, looking outward from here.

Colorful billboards, brightly lit glass curtain walls, and the tail lights trailing from cars converged into bands of light, like a gorgeous picture scroll unfolding beneath his feet.

"I have already sent people to spread the news, preparing to participate in the annual International Shadow Auction. The auction item is this Golden Bumpa Auspicious Treasure Vase."

Standing in the office building, the young man overlooked the bustling downtown scene outside the window, his tone calm and unruffled:

"This auction is scheduled to be held on March 25th. According to convention, the auction items need to be taken over by them one month in advance. Once this news spreads, those eyeing us covetously will definitely step up their actions."

Hearing this, the head guard's eyes suddenly lit up, and he nodded involuntarily.

The International Shadow Auction—he had certainly heard of it.

That was a presence with a resounding reputation in the Jianghu.

Its organizer was rumored to be a mysterious organization with a Legacy spanning hundreds of years, and the forces behind it were intricate and deeply rooted.

Members were spread across every corner of the globe, from the financial centers of bustling metropolises to ancient ruins in remote areas, all harboring their hidden informants.

The security team was even the elite among elites, each possessing extraordinary skills and coming and going like ghosts.

Those treasure hunters hiding in the dark certainly wouldn't want to cause trouble at the auction.

After all, it was even more difficult to make a move there, and a slight carelessness would result in losing everything.

"So..."

The head guard thought for a moment, and continuing the young man's words, said with a somewhat exploratory tone:

"They will choose to make a move before the auction, at the latest on the night before the auction items are transported; they must take action."

"That is to say, within the next week, we need to remain vigilant at all times, raise the defense Rank, and gather as many fish as possible until..."

"That's right."

The young man turned around, looking at the head guard with a torch-like gaze, and nodded slightly:

"This coming week is crucial. As long as we wait until there are enough fish in the net, it will be the time to pull in the net."

"You immediately go arrange manpower to strengthen the protection of the Auspicious Treasure Vase, and at the same time closely monitor the suspicious movements around."

"In addition, mobilize all our covert sentries. Once any sign of trouble is found, report to me immediately."

"Yes, Eldest Young Master!"

The head guard straightened his body and responded firmly.

Looking at the young man, his eyes were full of admiration.

He knew in his heart that if this operation succeeded, the Eldest Young Master's prestige within the Family would undoubtedly skyrocket, and he would have full confidence in competing for the position of Family head in the future.

And as a follower, he would also be able to ride the coattails and enjoy boundless glory and wealth.

With such yearning, he immediately turned to leave, strode out of the office, and personally went to the site to supervise the execution of the mission.

The young man coughed softly, still standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the bustling metropolis.

Neon lights flickered, traffic shuttled back and forth, and everything appeared full of vitality under the night cover.

His deep gaze penetrated the glass and crossed the skyline of towering buildings.

As if the hustle and bustle, vanity, and shifting winds of this city were all brought into his eyes.

Ding-dong——

Just as he was calculating various situations in his mind, suddenly a crisp bell sound rang out.

Like a mysterious instruction, it entered the young man's ears.

At the same time, a faint energy fluctuation vaguely rippled in the quiet air of the office.

The young man's expression did not change, as if he had expected it long ago.

Then, with steady steps, he walked toward the exquisitely decorated antique shelf located on the left side of the office.

This shelf was antique and exquisitely carved, displaying many rare antiques upon it.

To outsiders, it was nothing more than ornaments used by the master to feign elegance, little knowing that there was a hidden universe inside.

The young man raised his hand and familiarly pressed gently between a carved gap in the shelf.

Hearing only a crisp "click" sound, a secret door quietly opened.

Inside was shockingly a private elevator exclusive to the president.

The young man stepped into it and pressed the floor button.

Along with the buzzing roar of the motor, the elevator descended rapidly.

The numbers on the display also started from the 70th floor, jumping down one by one.

Ding.

Until it stopped between the 18th and 19th floors.

The elevator door actually opened automatically, revealing a passage glowing with hazy light behind it.

An unusually cold aura spread into the elevator accordingly.

It seemed as if the front connected to some unknown different world.

The young man didn't hesitate in the slightest; with a flash of his figure, he stepped into it and disappeared.

The elevator door slowly closed behind him, as if it had never been opened, leaving no trace at all.

Everything around was gray and hazy.

It was as if he had broken away from the modern metropolis and come to another completely different world.

What met the eyes was all hazy fog, drifting in wisps, obstructing vision and making one's heart produce a chill.

On the ground, countless candles were densely lit.

The bean-sized candlelight flickered in the wind, brightening and dimming, just like ghost fires jumping in the dark night.

The dim yellow light penetrated layers of fog, barely illuminating this secluded space.

Looking up, there was shockingly a towering ancient tree rising from the ground, standing deep within the fog.

Its trunk was thick beyond imagination, requiring dozens of people to stretch their arms to embrace it.

The dark brown bark was like ancient bronze eroded by centuries of wind and rain, with gullies crisscrossing. Every texture was engraved with the vicissitudes of years, as well as the secrets deeply buried here.

The branches were even like winding giant pythons, stretching wantonly in all directions.

Under the reflection of the candlelight, the lush dark green branches and leaves cast patches of strangely shaped shadows on the ground.

Like one by one Yao Beasts lurking in the dark, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, staring covetously at the intruder.

The young man slowed his steps, his gaze slowly sweeping across the scene before him.

Here, besides him, it was not that there were no other living people.

Right around this towering ancient tree, several old men were sitting cross-legged.

Their appearances were withered, their eyes tightly closed, immersed in cross-legged Meditation.

As if merging with the mysterious space, their entire bodies exuded a serene and profound aura after being precipitated by years.

Just like ancient sandalwood incense, drifting leisurely, making the hearts of those approaching quiet down unconsciously.

And behind them, rows of ancestral tablets were neatly placed.

The tablets were all made of ebony, with a heavy and antique texture.

The tablet in the center was the tallest, inscribed with "The Tablet of the High Ancestor of the Lu Family, Lord Qiwen".

The brushstrokes were vigorous, outlined in gold paint, still shimmering with a faint light under the dim light, demonstrating the revered status of the ancestors.

Below it and on both sides, numerous tablets were arranged in order.

Some were engraved with "The Spirit Tablet of Lord Lu XX", some inscribed with "The Tablet of Supreme Madam Lu Surname XX", all being the names of past generations of ancestors of the Family.

In different eras, they had either worn armor and fought with gold and iron horses, charging into battle amid the fires of troubled times, expanding territory and accumulating prestige for the Family, making the name of the Lu Family shake all directions.

Or deep in the courtyards, picking needles with plain hands and gently managing the household, raising offspring and branching out leaves with tenderness and resilience, allowing the Family Bloodline to continue and grow.

Even as the years passed and time eroded, trying to blur the memories of the past, it could not cover up the heavy foundation contained in this generation-to-generation Legacy.

The young man's gaze slowly swept across these tablets, and his eyes revealed complex emotions.

There was awe, remembrance, and a hint of expectation for himself.

Every time he came here, he would be shocked by this profound Family power.

As if traveling through time and space, looking into the eyes of the heroic spirits of the ancestors, listening to their earnest teachings coming from the depths of history.

Who would have thought that located in the center of the city, within a skyscraper, there was actually such a secretive and solemn Family Holy Land.

This realm completely isolated the outside hustle and bustle and prosperity, guarding the purest roots of the Family.

"Yongquan."

A figure in black robes sitting cross-legged suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the young man who had entered this place.

"Second Uncle."

The young man bowed slightly, paying his respects in response.

His identity was precisely the chairman of the Dongdu Jinlu Group, the eldest son of the current head of the Lu Family, Lu Yongquan.